The reports explore changes in the leading causes of premature mortality and disability in different parts of the world and compare the performance of countries in a range of health outcomes. Individually, they document how each region is working to reduce health loss from most communicable, newborn, nutritional, and maternal conditions and what new challenges lay ahead.

The World Bank commissioned the first Global Burden of Disease analysis as part of its World Development Report 1993. Earlier this year, IHME presented GBD 2010 findings in meetings hosted by the Bank. Bank officials saw how Global Burden of Disease analysis could be applied to the Bank’s work in specific countries and began collaborating with IHME on six regional reports.